anyone used a convertible car seat for a new born?

Hi all,With my ds I used a traditional infant carrier until he was 1. We switched him to a Britax Marathon at that point. My infant carrier is expired. So I have been checking out new options. Went to the store yesterday and apparently the marathon is good from 5lbs up! The owner of the shop convinced me to just get a second marathon. Has anyone used a convertible seat with a newborn before? Any tips and tricks? My ds will be 17 months when this LO arrives so tips on how to get 2 babies in the car would be great!

Hi all,With my ds I used a traditional infant carrier until he was 1. We switched him to a Britax Marathon at that point. My infant carrier is expired. So I have been checking out new options. Went to the store yesterday and apparently the marathon is good from 5lbs up! The owner of the shop convinced me to just get a second marathon. Has anyone used a convertible seat with a newborn before? Any tips and tricks? My ds will be 17 months when this LO arrives so tips on how to get 2 babies in the car would be great!

Why is the infant carseat expired?? I have an infant carseat that my first daughter used and she'll be 13 months old when this one's born. She's in a convertible carseat now and this one gets her infant carseat. I didn't know they could expire. I bought the convertible one before she grew out of the other because it just didn't look comfortable, but I haven't used it for a newborn. I think the infant seats are better for infants. But that's just my opinion. As for getting two carseats w/ babies in the car, I'd like to know how that's done too! :-)

Why is the infant carseat expired?? I have an infant carseat that my first daughter used and she'll be 13 months old when this one's born. She's in a convertible carseat now and this one gets her infant carseat. I didn't know they could expire. I bought the convertible one before she grew out of the other because it just didn't look comfortable, but I haven't used it for a newborn. I think the infant seats are better for infants. But that's just my opinion. As for getting two carseats w/ babies in the car, I'd like to know how that's done too! :-)

My first infant carrier was handed down from my SIL. Her cousin was in it first, then my nephew, and then my son. I was confident in the history of the seat so I didn't mind using it. At the time it expired after 5 years of manufacturing. The 5 year mark hit this past April. I'm sure if your seat was new with your daughter you are fine.

My first infant carrier was handed down from my SIL. Her cousin was in it first, then my nephew, and then my son. I was confident in the history of the seat so I didn't mind using it. At the time it expired after 5 years of manufacturing. The 5 year mark hit this past April. I'm sure if your seat was new with your daughter you are fine.

Yes, we used the infant carrier in my car and a britax blvd in my dh's truck, and a sunshine radian in our other car - all from the beginning with my ds. It's a much smarter way to go rather than buying another base for a infant carrier for other cars. For this baby, Im giving him the blvd and radian, and getting my 2 yr old son new britax frontiers.

Yes, we used the infant carrier in my car and a britax blvd in my dh's truck, and a sunshine radian in our other car - all from the beginning with my ds. It's a much smarter way to go rather than buying another base for a infant carrier for other cars. For this baby, Im giving him the blvd and radian, and getting my 2 yr old son new britax frontiers.

Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable putting a newborn in a convertible seat, but that's just me. The infant seats just seem more encompassing to me, which keeps them from being jostled around too much. Also, I'm a biiiiig fan of the JJ Cole Bundle Me cover for the car seat because it's much safer for baby than a bulky jacket or snowsuit. Add to that, with having to move two young kids in and out of the car, I know for me, having that carrier is going to cut down on juggling kids (I have a 2 year old who has entered that *let me ruuuuuun!!* stage), diaper bags and anything else. It seems less stressful to unlatch the car seat from the base, then take my son out. :) Walmart and Target both have fairly inexpensive infant seats that are great and BRU does a trade-in event twice a year where you can exchange old baby gear for a discount (usually 20%) on new stuff. :)

Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable putting a newborn in a convertible seat, but that's just me. The infant seats just seem more encompassing to me, which keeps them from being jostled around too much. Also, I'm a biiiiig fan of the JJ Cole Bundle Me cover for the car seat because it's much safer for baby than a bulky jacket or snowsuit. Add to that, with having to move two young kids in and out of the car, I know for me, having that carrier is going to cut down on juggling kids (I have a 2 year old who has entered that *let me ruuuuuun!!* stage), diaper bags and anything else. It seems less stressful to unlatch the car seat from the base, then take my son out. :) Walmart and Target both have fairly inexpensive infant seats that are great and BRU does a trade-in event twice a year where you can exchange old baby gear for a discount (usually 20%) on new stuff. :)

ALL carseats expire, you definitely need to check yours from your first LO if you plan on using it!!! Usually it's stamped on the bottom, check the owner's manual, etc. The reason they expire is because of the constant wear and tear on the plastic parts that lock into the base, the straps, sitting in the car in different temps, etc, they are not safe after x number of years. I think mine is 6 years. My DD will be 4 when this LO is born, and I just checked ours and it doesn't expire until the LO is about 8 months old and we switch to a convertible about then anyways so we are good.

ALL carseats expire, you definitely need to check yours from your first LO if you plan on using it!!! Usually it's stamped on the bottom, check the owner's manual, etc. The reason they expire is because of the constant wear and tear on the plastic parts that lock into the base, the straps, sitting in the car in different temps, etc, they are not safe after x number of years. I think mine is 6 years. My DD will be 4 when this LO is born, and I just checked ours and it doesn't expire until the LO is about 8 months old and we switch to a convertible about then anyways so we are good.

I say use an infant carseat at least for the first few months. My SIL (she was single and trying to save money in the long run) tried to go the convertible carseat route and decided after 1 week to borrow an infant seat. Here are the 2 main reasons she said and that I saw: 1) Even though with a convertible carseat you can recline the seat for an infant, they are not reclining nearly as much as an infant seat so the baby's head flops around and forward because they are in a more "seated" position. 2) You will have to take the baby out of the carseat EVERY time you take them out of the car. I am a big advocate of baby wearing, but there are times when I just need to run into a store and grab 1 or 2 things and it's SO much easier to take the carseat out and run in, rather than take them out, put on my carrier/sling, put them in, go in, come back out and do it all over! It will stink having to get a new one since your's is expired, but maybe a good friend you trust has one you can borrow for a few months?If you are content on using the convertible with an infant, I don't really have any tips or tricks, I'm sorry! I think you will have a better idea once the baby gets here, but don't forget that a 17 month old can be very active and trying to hold an infant and toddler might be a little too much.

I say use an infant carseat at least for the first few months. My SIL (she was single and trying to save money in the long run) tried to go the convertible carseat route and decided after 1 week to borrow an infant seat. Here are the 2 main reasons she said and that I saw: 1) Even though with a convertible carseat you can recline the seat for an infant, they are not reclining nearly as much as an infant seat so the baby's head flops around and forward because they are in a more "seated" position. 2) You will have to take the baby out of the carseat EVERY time you take them out of the car. I am a big advocate of baby wearing, but there are times when I just need to run into a store and grab 1 or 2 things and it's SO much easier to take the carseat out and run in, rather than take them out, put on my carrier/sling, put them in, go in, come back out and do it all over! It will stink having to get a new one since your's is expired, but maybe a good friend you trust has one you can borrow for a few months?If you are content on using the convertible with an infant, I don't really have any tips or tricks, I'm sorry! I think you will have a better idea once the baby gets here, but don't forget that a 17 month old can be very active and trying to hold an infant and toddler might be a little too much.

Sometimes it's stamped on the plastic on the underneath, sometimes on the side, sometimes on the sticker, it just depends on the brand. If you have the owner's manual it might say in there how many years, so if the seat has a manufactured date you could determine the exp date. I think a good rule of thumb is probably 5 years though, so if you can't find it and it's older than 5 years, it probably would be expired anyways.

Sometimes it's stamped on the plastic on the underneath, sometimes on the side, sometimes on the sticker, it just depends on the brand. If you have the owner's manual it might say in there how many years, so if the seat has a manufactured date you could determine the exp date. I think a good rule of thumb is probably 5 years though, so if you can't find it and it's older than 5 years, it probably would be expired anyways.

@doggiemommy, never thought to check with the hospital. But at a month old we got a convertible seat, it had a base so it would recline properly, however I had an expedition and it fit. When we downsized and I got my charger, it would not have fit as a rear facing seat.

@doggiemommy, never thought to check with the hospital. But at a month old we got a convertible seat, it had a base so it would recline properly, however I had an expedition and it fit. When we downsized and I got my charger, it would not have fit as a rear facing seat.

No clue on the convertible car seat. Personally I feel it would be easier to use an infant carrier especially wen getting 2 in the car. You strap baby in and all you do is snap seat into base. As for getting multiple children into convertible seats I can help with that. I am a nanny for 2 2 1/2 year olds and a 6 month old. All in convertible seats in my car. 1st get a keychain that will allow you to keep your keys around your wrist. that makes them easily accessible yet it still allows you a free hand. Next is seat placement. My 6 month old is rear facing behind the passenger seat and the other 2 are in the middle and behind the driver seat. I carry the baby and the bag and make the toddlers hold the handle to the diaper bag until we get to the car. I open back door on drivers side and use one hand to help the toddlers climb in the car (they have gotten really good about it) I don't strap them in yet. I go put the baby in her seat and the bag on the floor on that side. Then I go back around once baby is strapped in and strap the other 2 in. It's really not as much work as it sounds. Once you get in a routine they know what to expect each time you leave the front door. We go out 2-3 times a week. When getting out of the car to go in I unstrap the toddlers and leave them siting in the seats. I go around get baby and bag and then go back to help toddlers climb out. Then they hold the strap to the diaper bag on my shoulder until we get to the porch. The biggest help is the keychain that fits around your wrist. I'll have to change my whole system once my lo gets here!

No clue on the convertible car seat. Personally I feel it would be easier to use an infant carrier especially wen getting 2 in the car. You strap baby in and all you do is snap seat into base. As for getting multiple children into convertible seats I can help with that. I am a nanny for 2 2 1/2 year olds and a 6 month old. All in convertible seats in my car. 1st get a keychain that will allow you to keep your keys around your wrist. that makes them easily accessible yet it still allows you a free hand. Next is seat placement. My 6 month old is rear facing behind the passenger seat and the other 2 are in the middle and behind the driver seat. I carry the baby and the bag and make the toddlers hold the handle to the diaper bag until we get to the car. I open back door on drivers side and use one hand to help the toddlers climb in the car (they have gotten really good about it) I don't strap them in yet. I go put the baby in her seat and the bag on the floor on that side. Then I go back around once baby is strapped in and strap the other 2 in. It's really not as much work as it sounds. Once you get in a routine they know what to expect each time you leave the front door. We go out 2-3 times a week. When getting out of the car to go in I unstrap the toddlers and leave them siting in the seats. I go around get baby and bag and then go back to help toddlers climb out. Then they hold the strap to the diaper bag on my shoulder until we get to the porch. The biggest help is the keychain that fits around your wrist. I'll have to change my whole system once my lo gets here!

We have the Britax Boulevard for our daughter, but we used an infant carrier at first. All the reviews I read for the Boulevard and the Marathon said they really didn't work well for newborns, as they don't have enough support. I personally feel better using the infant seat for the first 6 months, but I know some people don't like the infant seats. Good luck!

We have the Britax Boulevard for our daughter, but we used an infant carrier at first. All the reviews I read for the Boulevard and the Marathon said they really didn't work well for newborns, as they don't have enough support. I personally feel better using the infant seat for the first 6 months, but I know some people don't like the infant seats. Good luck!

We borrowed an infant carrier from a friend and used it until we purchased a convertible car seat 3 months. She actually liked it better and we were able to keep her rear-facing until well after her first birthday. She is almost 3 and I love that it has grown with her and instead of having to move her to a booster, which are not as safe, we can continue to use the harness. As far as convenience goes, it is so much better for the babies sensory development to get them in and out of the seat. We just used a Baby Bjorn for quick trips and placed her in right in the stroller as a newborn for longer ones like to the mall and for walks.

We borrowed an infant carrier from a friend and used it until we purchased a convertible car seat 3 months. She actually liked it better and we were able to keep her rear-facing until well after her first birthday. She is almost 3 and I love that it has grown with her and instead of having to move her to a booster, which are not as safe, we can continue to use the harness. As far as convenience goes, it is so much better for the babies sensory development to get them in and out of the seat. We just used a Baby Bjorn for quick trips and placed her in right in the stroller as a newborn for longer ones like to the mall and for walks.

Thanks ladies! I think I may try just the convertible seat. And the tips of getting multiple children in. My little cousin is due 6 weeks before me so I may try her baby just sitting in the seat before mine comes. If I'm not comfortable I'll pick up an infant carrier. We will need the convertible eventually anyway.

Thanks ladies! I think I may try just the convertible seat. And the tips of getting multiple children in. My little cousin is due 6 weeks before me so I may try her baby just sitting in the seat before mine comes. If I'm not comfortable I'll pick up an infant carrier. We will need the convertible eventually anyway.

I've used the gracco my ride 65 since my son was born. It's rear facing 5-40 lbs and 20-65 forward and he is still rear facing until he reaches the weight limit. Right now at 14 months he's 22 lbs. I love it and it's so much easier not having to lug around the infant carrier. My sister used the infant carrier and I hated carrying my niece in and out of the house or anywhere in that stupid thing and it killed my back! I use a sling or pouch and now a deuter back pack for my son when we go shopping or he sits in the cart with a cart cover.

I've used the gracco my ride 65 since my son was born. It's rear facing 5-40 lbs and 20-65 forward and he is still rear facing until he reaches the weight limit. Right now at 14 months he's 22 lbs. I love it and it's so much easier not having to lug around the infant carrier. My sister used the infant carrier and I hated carrying my niece in and out of the house or anywhere in that stupid thing and it killed my back! I use a sling or pouch and now a deuter back pack for my son when we go shopping or he sits in the cart with a cart cover.

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